Apparatus and method for handling metal



an. 28, 1930. R, T, ROMINE 1,745,054

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING METAL Original Filed Sept. 10. 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet l 7 WA A W E S\\Q i rCz/ i Jan. 28, 1930. R. T. ROMINE 1,745,054

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING METAL Original Filed Sept. 10, 1927 3 She ts-sh et 2 EOHOJ O by ,W,W,WWM

fks ATTEIRNE'Y5 Jan. 28, 1930. R. T. ROMINE 1,745,054

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING METAL Original Filed Sept. 10. 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 I Fig 4 v INVENTEIR= Ha AT'E RN YS- Patented Jan. 28, 1930 ROBERT T. ROMINE, OF MOUNT CLEMENS, MICHIGAN APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR HANDLING METAL Application filed September 10, 1927, Serial No. 218,791. Renewed June 4, 1928.

This invention relates to a method and aparatus for binding and shipping sheet metal 1n compact unitary packs or bundles on the floor of freight cars or carriers. Large quantities of sheet metal or sheet steel are ship ed from steel or rolling mills to automobile manufacturers and others, and an object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatus whereby packs or bundles of this metal containing groups of sheets of difierent sizes may be formed and shipped in an eflicient and economical manner.

Other objects of the invention will appear in the following description and appended claims reference being had to the accompanying drawings formin a part of this specific,- tion wherein like r'e erence characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a bound pack or bundle of metal embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation of a modified form of bound pack or bundle.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the pack shown in Fi 3.

Begore explaining in detail the present invention itis to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawin s, since the invention is capable of other em odiments and of being practised or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims hereto 'appended or the requirements of the prior art. In Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings I have shown at S a bound pack or bundle wherein two groups of metal sheets of different are bound together for shipment, the pack as a whole being supported with the sheets 7 disposed on edge upon transverse riding blocks or pallet members P.

The pack S is formed of metal sheets of mixed-or difierent sizes, including in this instance one group A of relativel narrow sheets and another group B of wi er sheets, which groups are bound together in a suitable manner so as to maintain them in position with respect to each other. By way of illustration the pack may be bound by means of binders shown as a whole at D, which type of binder is shown and described in my Patent No. 1,650,540, dated November 22, 1927, and which type I have shown by preference since greater strength and pressure against the sheet edges is ossible.

Each of the inders comprlses four angular sections d, d d and (i each consisting of a pair of similarly formed parallel metal bars 10. The'ends of the binder sections overlap and are preferably secured together by means of bolts and spacing members 10 is provided with a lurality of holes 10 adapted to receive the olts 11 and to permit adjustability of the binder.

. t the top of the pack S I position wood blocks or filler strips which are adapted to c00 1; rate with the binders D encircling the pac Above the section A of the pack I place several bars or blocks of wood F so as to compensate for the space between the upper edges of the sheets forming the portion A and the upper edges of the sheets of the portion B of the pack. Above the portion B I provide preferably a wood bar or block F. Beneath the pack at the point where each binding underlies the bottom edges oi the sheets of the pack; and upon the binder D at that point, I preferably lace a wood strip or bar F for the purpose 0 protecting the lower edges of the sheets when the binder which underlies the pack at that point is drawn into osition to firmly bind the sheets together into a compact unit. The yoke frame D of devices 11. Each of the wardly toward the lower edges of the sheets and grip the wood bar or strip F therebetween. As shown in Fig. 1, with packs of metal of normal size I preferably employ two binders D, these being positioned preferably adjacent each end of the pack.

After each of the binders have been drawn upwardl so as to grip the wood members F against the lower edges of the pack, longitudinal Wood members or bars F may be interposed between the pressure devices and the pack at opposite vertical sides of the latter,

and by tightening the devices E through the medium of their adjusting screws E, considerable pressure is possible so as to compress and maintain the constituent sheets of both portions of -the pack together as a unit or single mass. Additional pressure may be applied to the adjusting screws E of the pressure devices at the top of the pack, whereupon the sheets are firmly held together as a unit.

At opposite longitudinal sides of the pack longitudinal wood members or bars H are mounted on the riding or skid members P, these bars being provided adjacent opposite ends with notches or cutout portions H formed in the wood members at the points where the binders D encircle the pack. The binders extend into these notches thereby interlocking the parts together. These members H are secured to the riding blocks or pallet members P by means of nails or the like 12 (Fig. 1) and act to hold the pallet or skid members P together as well as to hold the pack and pallet members together as a unit.

It will be understood that the packs may be formed at any conve'nientpoint, preferably at the final operation at a steel mill. When the acks are to shipped in freight cars and ound by means of binders as above illustrat ed, the riding blocks or pallet members P are positioned transversely upon the car floor at spaced intervals so as to permit thebinders D of the pack to be positioned between adjacent riding blocks free from contact with the car floor. It will be noted that the blocks P are thicker than the thickness or transverse diameter of the binders D so that when the pack is supported upon the .pallet members the binders are out of contact with the car floor (see Fig. 1). When a pack is placed in a carrier for shipment .it merely rests upon the floor thereof and is not secured thereto but on the other hand is permitted to float or move on the carrier floors during transit. In order to prevent any accidental lateral or sidewise movement of the pack when shifting on the car floor as a result of shocks during transit, guide blocks G are preferably positioned at opposite ends of the pallet members P longitudinally of the car and are secured to the car floor.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have shown in the invention as applied in connection with packs of sheet metal wherein the sheets are of different sizes and are positioned flatwise. In this form of the invention the riding blocks P are similarly employed to supiport the pack S in position upon a carrier oor for shipment, and the pack containing sections of different size sheets is illustrated as bound together by means of binders D similar to those shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring to Figs. 3 and 4, the entire pack made up of sections C, A and B of dlfi'erent size sheets or strips, may be supported on the car floor upon riding or skid members P which in this instance are tied together for unitary movement on the car floor such as by means of longitudinal angles 15 having spurs or projections 15 capable of frictionally holding the riding members together by embedding therein.

The particular pack shown in Fig. 3 is formed by piling the wider metal sheets C within the angles 15 upon riding or skid members, after which one group A of narrower metal sheets or strips are piled upon the top of the sheets 0. Although these sheets A are shown as'piled directly on the sheets C, they may be separated by spacers if desired. l/Vood filler members or bars I are placed in position against the inner edges of the sheets A, and thereu on another group of sheets B are s'tacke on top of the sheets C with their inner edges abutting against the filler members I. The entiremass is then bound together by suitable means capable of maintaining the different size sheets in proper position with respect to each other. Tight binders are important in-pressing the wood filler members against the edges of the shorter sheets while at the same time exerting substantially equivalent pressure against the wider sheets,

or another grou of sheets of the same pack.

The rigid bin ers D carrying pressure devices E are illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 by way of example, this type of binder having the advantage of greater strength and pressure capacity. The invention however is not limited to the binder herein shown. The application of the binders herein illustrated is as follows: the binders D comprising four sections are placed about the entire pack A pair of wood members or bars K,

one for each binder D is then laced upon the top of the portions A an pack between those portions and the binders. ressure devices E are then inserted between the binders and the wood members K and preliminarily tightened to draw the bottom parts of the binders into engagement with the angles 15 at the under side of the pack. A vertically extending wood member or bar L is then placed between the binder and the right vertical side of the pack. A similar bar L is also placed against the left vertical side of the pack, it being understood that a pair of such bars are provided for each binder.

B of the Pressure devices E are then inserted between thev bars L at the left side of the pack and the binder sections at that oint, these being tightened through the me ium of their adjusting screws to draw the binder sections at the right side of the pack into engagement with the wood members L positioned at that side so as to clamp such members between the binders and the edges of the sheets at that side of the pack. Final pressure may then be applied to the pressure devices E at the top of the pack. Likewise final pressure may then be applied to the pressure devices at the left side of the pack whereupon the sheets of'the several groups or packs A, B and C will be pressed together to form a -compact unitary bundle.

The woodmembers L at the vertical sides of the pack may be cut away or notched at their lower inner faces where they engage the vertical flanges of the angles 15. These wood members, however, may be formed of relatively soft wood and hence it would not be necessary to provide such notches, since upon applying pressure to the hinders the angles will be forced into the wood members.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pack or bundle and the pallet or skid members, will move together as a unit when the carrier in which they are being shipped is subjected to shocks, blows or impacts during transit. That is to say, the pack of Figs. 3 and 4 is allowed to have a slight relative movement or floating action upon the car floor during shipment. It will be also understood that when the pack S is placed in a carrier for shipment, the usual guide members G are nailed to the car floor to prevent lateral or sidewise movement of the packs during shipment.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a method and apparatus whereby heavy bundles of metal containing groups or packs of sheets of different sizes may be bound into unitary bundles for shipment in carriers, and at destination may be removed as units from the car.

While I have shown merely for purposes of illustration two forms of bundles containing sheets of different sizes various other forms of bundles containing groups or packs of sheets of different sizes may be formed in accordance with the invention. I i

I may employ, if desirable, a single wood member to take the place of the wood members or blocks F of the pack shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Likewise I may find it desirable to employ several wood members or bars in lieu of the wood member I forming a part of the pack shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

From the foregoing it will be seen that sheets of different widths may be stacked in packs and all bound together as a unit, equal pressure being exerted against the edges of the wider and narrower groups or packs of sheets whereby irrespective of the different sizes of sheets all of them will be firmly held together as a single mass unit during transit against relative displacement.

I claim:

1. The hereindescribed method of transporting sheet metal on the floor of a freight car, consisting in arranging sheets of dif ferent widths to form a single pack, and binding the pack to exert substantially equal pres sure on the wider and narrower portions of the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

2. The hereindescribed' method of transporting sheet metal on the floor of a freight car consisting in arranging sheets of different widths on edge to form a single pack, and binding the pack to exert substantially equal pressure on the wider and narrower portions of the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

3. The hereindescribed method of transporting sheet metal on the fioor of a freight car, consisting in arranging sheets of different widths to form a single pack, and binding the pack to exert substantially equal pressure on the edges of the wider and narrower portions of the pack to maintain the pack as a unit.

4. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, and means cooperating with said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion.

5. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths com prising a binder encircling the pack, angle bars supporting opposite longitudinal side edges of the pack, and means cooperating with said binder and angle bars for maintaining the narrower portion ofthe pack in position relative to the wider portion.

6. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, filler blocks interposed between the pack and the binder, and pressure devices carried by said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion.

7. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting on their edges in which the bundle comprises a plu- -rality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, and means cooperating with said binder for eX- erting substantially equal pressure against the edges of the sheets of the wider and nar-v rower portions of the pack.

8. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting on their edges in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths, comprising a binder encircling the pack, means cooperating with said binder for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portions, and means for exerting pressure against said last means.

9. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a freight car floor for transportation with the sheets resting on their edges in which the bundle comprises a plurality of portions of different widths comprising a binder encircling the pack, wood members engaging the narrower portion of the pack, and pressure devices between said binder and pack for maintaining the narrower portion of the pack in position relative to the wider portion.

10. Apparatus for binding sheet metal in a pack or bundle on a carrier floor for transportation in which the bundle comprises a plurality of groups of metal sheets of different widths, comprising wood filler means facing the edges of the shorter group of sheets and engaging the group of wider sheets, bindin means pressing said groups of sheets and said wood filler means together to maintain the sheets in position with respect to each other, and supporting means for the pack free to shift with said pack as a unit relatively to the car floor.

11. The method of transporting sheet metal on the floor of a freight car or carrier comprising arran 'ng groups of sheets of different widths to orm a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets in substantially fixed relative positions in the pack, and allowing the groups of sheets to shift or float as a unit relatively to the car metal on the floor of a freight car comprising arranging grou s of sheets of different widths to form a sing e pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets to ether in the pack, supporting the groups 0 sheets as a unit on riding members to permit the groups to shift or float as a unit longitudinally of the car durin transit thereby to resist relative shifting 0% the sheets of the groups.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature.

ROBERT T. ROMINE.

floor when the car is subjected to shocks or blows.

12. The method of transporting sheet metal on the floor of a freight car or carrier comprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths to form a single pack, binding the pack to maintain the groups of sheets in substantially fixed relative positions, supporting the groups of sheets as a unitby means interposed therebetween and the car floor, and allowing the groups of sheets to shift or float as a unit relatively to the car floor during transit. ,1 13. The method of transporting sheet 1 metal on the floor of a freight car comprising arranging groups of sheets of different widths to form a single pack binding the pack to maintain the groups ofsheets together in the pack, allowing the groups of sheets to shift or float as a unit longitudinally of the car floor during transit, and uiding the pack to predetermine its longitudinal movement.

14.The method of transporting sheet 

